Rubber heel with rotatably adjusted section



Feb. 16, 1954 B. GILOWITZ RUBBER HEEL WITH ROTATABLY ADJUSTED SECTIONFiled March 17, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l 23 0 27 INVENTOR ATTORNEY 7 Feb.16, 1954 B. GILOWITZ 2,669,037

RUBBER HEEL. WITH ROTATABLY ADJUSTED SECTION Filed March 17, 1953 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Ezg F zgZZ.

3 F a z z 36- 1 222 f Z 22 2529210. 45 4 44- INVENTOR BENJAMIN C7740 W/72,

ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 16, 1954 stews? PATENT ossi cs itties-En WITHR'CSTATA'BLY ADJUSTED SECTION lipplicaltioniMarch l'i, 195 3,'Se1ia1lNo. 3 1 2; 839

14 Claims.

My invehtionielates to shoe heels "of 'r ihbe f of the type'in which acircular"sectio'n'isset ihto the 'lr'eali portion of the 'bodyo'f theriibbei' h'eel ali'l'd ma be iotajtably adjusted rem-most fportion ofthe section is worn down "so as 'to-pi'es'ent "ah unworn po'rtion offthesection at the ieali of "the "hee'hwhere the greatest wea'itakes placefin use'efthashoe. Ih'iiibberh'els of this type, "the fdi'matiohiiitheloiii'ei real! part :ofithe body of a ciroularrecess foiith'ereceptionof the iro'tat- "ably Shift/able section, ledves at the sidesof the lob'fitor'hb'f the bo'iiy'tWb rearwarel tap'ered Wing's'br'eorners ii'i'l'iich haves tendency to spring away "train the"peripheral edge of the circular section "and to be caught on.projecting portions of {surfahes over'which the wearer-may walk. Variousattemptshav been made to prevent these generally v s'hape'd'win'gsorproj actions from spreading outwardly and whole them in close contactwith the-circular edge of the section Ib'ut-I-knoW of none which havesought to ome "thelrproblem ii'ijthe manhei"hereihafter described. e I

The main object of'the "invention .is to provide on "the tapered rearcoihers of theilpottom 0f the iubbei' heel bod'y, lfiexible inwardlyextending anchorihgmeiiibers which overlie =theicii'c'ularseeand areremovably set into recesses -in the bottom ofth'e Tlat'ter so -that thetapered wings orfcoin'ers "will be e'fiectivelyihldin tight :contact'w'iththe circular edge of the section.

Another object 'oftheinventionis to providea rlibbe'i' heel ofthischaracter which will leave the fac'tory as anassemmed umt readywto beapplied to a leather shoe or its 'heeleither at a shoe factory or at ashoerepair shop by simply driving -a. ew'nails. p p

Another object is'to provide arubber-heeLo-f this character in which thecircular section when worn at o'ne p'lace may be rotatably adjustedor'slii-fte'd by the shoe owner or a shoe repair man tp present an unwomportion of the section rat the rear of the heel. u v I Another object isto provide aarubber .-hee'1 .of this character to which a metal wearplate may be removably secured, by one or :more screw threadedfastenings, and which when applied .to a leather heel will'b --ha.rdly'-distinguishable from the ordinaryone-piecerubber heel.

"With the above and other objects and advan;- tages View, (the inventionresides in the novel combinations and arrangements of parts-and the nofel features of construction hereinafter v.described and claimed, andillustrated in htheaecom panying drawings which show the present; pre=irred embodiments of the invention.

Fig. '1 is a siiieview of 'the'Y'e ai 'portionoi 'ashoe showingtheimproved rubber h-eel applied; I

Fig. 3 is '2 viewsi liiiiai" to Fig. 2 With the-ircular section remov'ed and onef'o'f the flexible anchori'n'g m'e'mbe'rsbrognaway; H sFig. i is a longitudinal section onliiie '4 '4.1'n

Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is '2. transverse section on 1ihe.575 Ii'n g. a I

'Fig. 6 is a top plan i iewjof the circular section shownin theaboveviews; U

Fig. 'Tis a bottom plan view of a second 'formlof the improved heel;

Figs. 3 and Bare sectional view taken on the iines-8 8 fand"9- 9res'peotiveiy'in Fig.7; a

Fig. Iii-is Ia perspective View of the metal wear plate shownIii -Figs.7 SahdS; 4

Fig'.?1-1 is a. bbttom blah View of a third form of theiiiuention; v 1.Figs. 12 arid 1-3 are sectional Views taken on lines 2-12 and.vl'3-- I3wre'sp'ecti'iiely. in Fig. 11;

.- and FigxLPi. is a perspective :i 'iew of a, metal vwear j iate whichmay .bea'p pl ie'd 11:0 the-h'eelvsh'own in Fig. 11 "as intimated by thedotted lihe therein, ian'dfwhi'ch is shownfin sectioi iin Fig. 12. v

In the drawings I h'a've [shown three forms of the inveiitiohlbiit inallot them flexible arms ex- ..tei d inwar'dlyi'rom the tapered cornersto 'lie in 1adia1 recesses or channels formed in the bottom of .thecircular s'otiomithe arms being provided with lateral proiec'tiohs :orlugs to enter a I socket or sockets formed in the section. These arms'and their projections or shouldered (portions will be retained to someextentlin the section by :friction andbythe resilience of the materialbut; preferably employ other fastening means which'may'or that not also.assist in holding th section in its =adju'stedpos'ition'in the recessof the body portion of the ir'ub'berhe'el. .By the useof rubber hereinit is to berunoler'stood that the material used may h'enatiirairiihber,synthetic-rubber,resilient plastic or othei rubber-likeresilientfmaterial. V

Referringamore particularly to Figs.v 1-6, the letter S clenotesiaportion-of a shoe, hootor the like andl-i the usuaileather heel to whichthe rubber heelisnailedor otherwise fastened. The-i111 proved rubber.heel comprises abody 15 molded from resilient rubber-like material witha substantiallyyei-rcular recess min the rear 'portionrof its bottom forthe r-recepti-on of an adjustable :fcircular wear section H. Theformation of the recess I6 leaves two rearwardly tapered wings orcorners I8 disposed along the opposite side edges of the section H. Thebody I is moulded with the usual dished or concave top face (not shown)so that its edges will be in tight contact with the leather heel whennailed thereto. Usually five nails I9 are used and they are driven inholes 2E! until their heads engage the usual Washers 2i molded in thebody. Provision is made whereby some of these nails are driven entirelythrough the rotatable section in any of its adjusted positions so thatthe assembled sectional heel may be fastened as a unit to the shoe.

Extending inwardly from the end portions of the tapered corners I8 areflexible anchoring members or arms 22 which are provided with laterallyprojecting lugs 23 preferably disposed at their free ends. These armswhich may be straight or tapered, are alined transversely of the heeland are received in radially disposed recesses or channels formed in thebottom of the section I! so that they will lie flush with the bottom ofthe heel. As shown in Fig. 2 these channels are formed by the endportions of a single diametrically extending channel 24, and hence thissection Il may be turned to either of two adjusted positions but in theother forms two diametrically extending channels at right angles to eachother are provided so that the section may be adjusted to any of fourpositions. The arms 22 may be molded in one piece with the body I5 inwhich case they will also be resilient or they may be attached to thecorners It in any suitable manner. As shown the arms are flat but attheir outer ends they are formed with thickenedportions or lugs 25 whichextend inwardly from the tapered corners I8 to provide a substantialconnection between these parts. These lugs or thickened portions 25 fitin similar shaped notches 26 formed in the peripheral edge of thecircular section H to assist in holding thelatter in an adjustedposition. The notches 26 are at the ends of the channel or channels 24.Due to the resilience of the material, the arms and their outer lugs 25may be sprung into and out of the channels and notches. The arms 22maybe of various lengths, and as shown in Fig. 2, they do not extend tothe center of the section I1. In this form the lateral projections orlugs 23 are of cylindrical shape and are adapted to be sprung or snappedinto circular holes 21 formed in the bottom of the diametrical channel24. The shouldered engagement between the projections 23 and holes 21will prevent endwise movement of the arms and hence hold the taperedcorners I8 in proper engagement with the section I I.

Various additional means may be provided to hold the arms in overlappingengagement with the shiftable section I I. Imay form the arms with nailholes with sockets to receive washers. As shownin Fig. 5 holes 28 maypass through the centers of the projections 23 and receive nails 29, theheads of which engage the washers 30 in the bottoms of sockets. Thesesmall nails may be driven into the body I5, and even further, into theleather heel but they are easily pried out when the section I! is wornat one point and is to be shifted to another position. These parts alsoserve to hold the section I! in its recess I6 but other means may beprovided to accomplish that result. For example in molding the body I5,the bottom of the recess I6 may be made rough as indicated at 3| in Fig.3 and a similar roughened annular band 32 may be molded on the upperface of the section I! as shown in Fig. 6; and then when certain of theholes 39, 4i).

these parts are assembled a light coating of rubber cement may beapplied to these contacting roughened areas. Or I may use at least onescrew or bolt to fasten the section I'I. As shown in Fig. 4, the sectionmay have a central hole 33 to receive a bolt 34 which passes through ahole at the center of the recess 13 and engages a nut 35 molded in thebody or set in a similar shaped socket molded in the top of the heelbody. Or an annular series of holes 36 may be formed in the section II,one of which may receive a suitable fastening. The number andarrangement of the holes 36 is such that in either of the two positionsof the section I'I, three of these holes will register with the threerearmost holes 20 so that the nails I9 may be driven through them andinto the leather heel, as will be apparent upon reference to Fig. 4.

The embodiment shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9 is quite similar to the firstform and the same numerals with exponents will be used to designate thecorresponding parts. The principal difference is that the arms 22 aremade longer so as to abut each other at the center of the heel and theprojections 23 are of rectangular shape so that both may be snapped intoa square hole 2'! at the center of the section I I and fill the same.Further, two of the diametrical channels 2d at right angles to eachother are provided so that the section may be adjusted to fourpositions. The nail holes 28 are formed in the intermediate portions ofthe arms instead of near their ends, and the arm fastening nails 29*engage washers 3t embedded in those portions of the arms as seen in Fig.9. These nails 29 also pass through holes 39 in the section I'I andholes 43 in the body, there being four of each of the holes 39 and 50 sospaced that in any adjusted position of the section the holes 28 willregister with The nails 29 may therefore be driven into the leather heelafter the rubber heel has been fastened thereto but these nails may bereadily pried out when the section I! is to be set in a new position.The five holes 20 for the heel fastening nails I9 are arrangeddifferently in this form. The three rearmost holes 20 are disposed sothat they will be opposite the crossed grooves 24 in the differentpositions of the section Il and hence the latter is formed with onlyfour equally spaced holes 36 The arms 22 have holes 4I so positionedthat they will register'with two of the holes 36% in any adjustedposition of the section Il The registering of three. of the holes 3twith the three rearmost holes 2i permits the nails I9 to be driven intothe leather heel while the rubber heel is an assembled unit. While thebottom area of the body I5 in rear of the recess I6 may, in this form,he made plain as in the first form, I have shown shallow grooves 42which produce anti-slipping cleats 43 at the bottom of the for wardportion of the heel as seen in Fig. 7. .I have also shown in Figs. 7, 8and 10 a removable metal wear plate 44 which may be used if desired andwhich is disposed at the center of the rear of the heel. This heel plateis of right an,-

gular shape having a short upright arm 45 to fill the notch 26*, whichis at the center of the rear of the heel, and a long arm 46 which entersthe adjoining channel 24 as seen in Fig. 8. The arm or branch 46 has ahole 4! which will register with the alined holes 39 and that arerearmost to receive a fastener 48 such as a Wood screw but which may bea bolt and nut similar to 34, 35. The plate 44 may have an additionalhole 44 to sweats? register wlth. the rearmost hole .38 so that the rearnail .laamaybe drivenwhen the-plate '4 4.-i's on-the assembled rubber.heel. When the section li is. to be...adjusted,.the wear plate .is ofcourse removed but it may be replaced in the notch and channel that arerearmost in the'new position of the section. In. all other respects thissecond form is the same in construction and operation as-tnefirstrorm. i

third form shown in Figs. 11', 12 and 13 is quite similar to the secondform since the rotary section H has two intersecting ahdrdia metricallyextending channels 24* which also open into a single cent-m1 hole 21formed in the seetiOn; t I'eC'ei'VebOth Of the 1atera1 projections 23 ohthe flexible arms 22?. However in this form the socket means,corresponding to the two holes ZTinthe first form and the square orrectangular hole 21 in the second form, is a circularholeffl and thelugs or projections 23 whichcorrespond to the previously described parts23 and '2'3 ,;are fiat and enlarged circular headsdispose'dinsuperimposed relation inthesock'et ihear'is u es seen inFigs. 12 and 13. {The flexibility of the arms 22 permit first one heador projectionll3 to be snapped into the bottom oi tl e hole 21* and thenthe other to be sna'pped in, on top of :the first. Th ili'fei'r'r osthead"23 -f has its edge slightly cutaway at '50 in Fig. 11"; andas'shownat '5! injFig. 13, ,it h as a,beveled portion to engage a corresponding beveled "portion at the juncture of the lower or innerheadwithits arm 22*. In this form the arms zz a're'not fastened bynails. Instead, a single fastener 52 corresponding somewhat to the bolt34, is used to not only fasten the and a central hole in the center ofthe recess lG and into the leather heel as clearly shown in Figs. 12 and13. In this form the section l'l is also formed with four equally spacedholes which register with the three rearmost holes 20* for the nails 19which fasten the rubber heel to the leather heel. To permit these nailsto be driven with the parts assembled, the arms i2 are also formed withholes 4 I b which register with certain of the holes 36*, as seen inFig. 13. In Figs. 12 and 14 I have shown a metal heel plate 44 similarto the one shown in Fig. 10, which may be used with this third form. InFig. 11 it is only shown in dotted lines. It consists of a thinsector-shaped plate with a thickened right angular part having anupright leg 45* to fill the rearmost notch 26 and a longitudinal leg 46to lie in the adjacent channel 24 The plate may also have a thickenedportion 53 shaped to overlie one of the arms 22 which is made a littlethinner as shown at 54 in Fig. 18. When this heel plate is used therearmost nail la is replaced by a wood screw 48 as shown in Fig. 12. Thescrew is inserted in a hole 41* which registers with the rearmost holes36 and 20 and it is threaded into the leather heel. The plate is alsoshown with another hole 55 which registers with the hole M in one of thearms 22 so that a screw similar to 48 may be used to more securelyfasten the heel plate.

It will be noted that in all three forms, the rotary section has channelmeans to receive the flexible arms and also socket means to receive thelateral projections on the arms, the socket means and the projectionsforming coacting shoulders which prevent the arms from moving outwardlyand hence the tapered corners to which the arms 6 are united will beprevented from spreading away from the periphery of the section. Whenthe arms are of resilient material the projections may be made to snapinto the socket means, but whether resilient or not, all forms shownherein have some 'i neans for retaining the arms in the section when theheel applied to a shoe.

While I have shown the rubber heel applied to a leather heel, it will beunderstood that the rubber'he'el may be made thicker and applieddirectly to the rear portion of the shoe sole.

From the foregoing, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing,it will be seen that novel "and advantageous provision ha been madefor'ca r rying out theo-bje'cts of the invention, and While'preferenceshave been disclosed, attention invited to the 'po'ssibilityiof makingvariations thescope of the invention asclaiihed.

1. In a rubber heel having a circular rotatably adjustable wear sectionset in a substantially circular recess in the rear of the'bottorn of aheel body, the latter having rearwardly tapered corners disposed atopposite side edges of the section, means for holding said taperedcorners against outward spreading andsecuring tl'iern to the circular-section, said means comp-risingapair of flexible andresilient"arms'extendin'g inward- 1y vfrom said cornersandjhavinglat'eralprojectiqns, the bottom of said'se'otion havingatleast one radial channel to receive said arm'sjandjalso having socketmeans into which said projections snap to, prevent outwa'rdmovement orsaid arms and outward spreading of 's'aidcorner away from said section,means associated with said arms to removably retain them in engagementwith said section.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which said body has holes with embeddedwashers concentric therewith to receive nails for fastening the rubberheel to a leather heel, and in which said circular section has holeswhich aline with certain of said nail holes when the section is in anadjusted position to enable the assembled rubber heel to be nailed tothe shoe heel.

3. The structure of claim 1 in which said circular section has atdiametrical points in its edge notches which aline with said radialchannel and which receive thickened portions of said arms Where they areunited to said tapered corners.

4. Th structure of claim 1 in which said means removably retaining saidarms in engagement with said section includes nail holes in said armsand washers embedded in said arms concentric with said nail holes.

5. The structure of claim 1 in which said socket means consists ofdiametrically spaced holes in said circular section for reception ofsaid projections.

6. The structure of claim 1 in which said socket means consists of acentrally positioned hole in said circular section to receive both ofsaid projections.

7. The structure of claim 6 in which said projections on the arms are invertically overlapping relation when in said central hole, and in whichsaid means removably retaining the arms in engagement with the sectionconsists of registering holes in the overlapped projections to receive ascrew threaded fastening.

8. The structure of claim 1 together with means retaining said circularsection in an adjusted position in the recess of the body, the lastmentioned means comprising a bolt positioned in a central hole in saidsection and passing through 7 analined hole in said body, and a nut forsaid bolt seated in a socket in the upper face of said body. 9. Thestructure of claim 1 in which said circular section has diametricalnotches in its peripheral edge'at the ends of the channel, and in whichsaid arms have thickenedportions where they are united to said taperedcorners, said notches receiving said thickened portions.

. 10. The structure of claim 1 in which saidcircular section is providedwith two of said radial channels disposed at right angles to each otherand either one of which may receive said arms in an adjusted position ofsaid section, said section being also formed in its peripheral edge withnotches alined with said channels, one pair of the diametrical notchesreceiving thickened portions of said arms where they are united to saidtapered corners, according to the adjustment of said section.

11. The structure of claim 10 together with a metal wear plate having aportion to flll the notch at the center of the rear of the heel and toextendinto the channel alined with such notch, said plate having anopening to receive a removable fastening for securing said metal plate.

12. In a rubber heel having a circular rotatably adjustable wear sectionset in a substan-.

tially circular recess in the rear of the bottom of a heel body, thelatter having rearwardly tapered corners disposed at opposite side edgesof the section, means for holding said tapered corners against outwardspreading and securing them to the circular section, said meanscomprising a'pair of'flexible and resilient arms extending inwardly fromsaid corners and having lateral projections, the bottom of said sectionhaving atleast one radial channel to receive said arms and also havingsocket mean into which said projections snap to prevent outward movementof said arms and outward spreading of said corners away from saidsection.

13. In a rubber heel having a circular rotatably adjustable wear sectionset in a substantially circular recess in the rear of the bottom of aheel body, the latter having rearwardly tapered corners disposed atopposite side edges of the section, means for holding said taperedcorners against outward spreading and securing them to the circularsection, said means comprising a pair of flexible arms extendinginwardlyirom said corners, laterally extending projections on said armsforming shoulders, said section having on its bottom channel means toreceive said arms, and also having socket means to receive saidprojections and forming shoulders engaged by said first mentionedshoulders to prevent outward movement of said arms and spreading of saidtapered corners away from the edges of said sec tion. J

14. The structure of claim 13 together with means associated with saidarms for removably holding them in said section when the .heelfisapplied to a shoe. I

BENJAMIN GILOWITZ.

No references cited.

